History will be made this week at the 116th Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
For the first time, the state’s amateur champ will be crowned at Framingham Country Club. The winner will be decided after five days of intense competition in, perhaps, sweltering conditions. The winner won’t be decided until Friday.
There are plenty of potential champions. One thing is for sure: New England Patriots fans have a special reason to tune into Monday’s and Tuesday’s rounds, at least.
That’s because the team’s starting punter, Bryce Baringer, will be among those teeing it up in Framingham and hoping to advance to match play after two rounds of stroke play.
The 25-year-old, drafted by the Patriots in 2023, qualified for the championship on June 18 when he shot a 1-under par 69 at Stockbridge Golf Club. Baringer didn’t just qualify that day – his superb round earned him medalist honors.
The Wrentham resident is a member of TPC Boston. It will be interesting to see if any of his Patriots’ teammates show up to support him.
While Baringer is a professional athlete, an 18-year-old amateur is expected to receive plenty of pre-tournament attention.
Ryan Downes, 18, is the defending champion. Last year he made history when he became the youngest player to win the Mass Amateur. Downes, 17 at the time, eclipsed the feats of the two youngest previous champs, Ted Adams and James Driscoll. Adams (1939) and Driscoll (1996) were each 18 when they ruled the state.
And Downes won the title in convincing fashion. Advancing to the final match, Downes defeated his good friend Matthew Naumec, winning 6-and-5 in the 36-hole final at Essex Country Club. The Manchester-by-the-Sea club was hosting the event for the eighth time.
A Longmeadow native, Downes became the first GreatHorse member to win the Mass Amateur.
Downes is young, talented and used to success. Last fall, he captured the MIAA Div. 1 state championship on his home course. He also claimed his second straight Ouimet Memorial Tournament and was a Mass Junior Amateur semifinalist.
He’s coming off a 12th-place finish in the Mass Open where he closed with a 69.
Downes will have plenty of elite competition.
John Broderick is a player to keep an eye on. The Dedham Country and Polo Club member turned heads when he fired a course-record 62 at Essex Country Club in the final round of stroke play to earn medalist honors last July.
He’s coming off a strong freshman season at Vanderbilt University, where he will be a teammate of Downes.
There are young guns aplenty, including 15-year-old Wellesley resident Aarav Lavu, the youngest player in the talented field. Lavu carded an eye-popping 58 to become the 2022 Massachusetts Young Golfers’ Amateur champion. The Blue Hill Country Club member also competed last year at the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals at a Georgia course called Augusta National Golf Club.
Conner Willett, 21, captured the 2022 Mass Amateur title and the Wellesley native has the game to add to his trophy case.
Looking for someone to root for? Westford’s Molly Smith, 19, made history last year by becoming the first female to compete in the Mass Amateur. The Vesper Country Club member is back and fresh off a runner-up finish in the Lowell City Golf Tournament. She was oh so close to becoming the first female winner in the 99-year history of the event.
But don’t count out “older” golfers like 41-year-old Andrew Diramio of North Hill Country Club. He’s easy to spot – he’s the guy using a one-armed putting style. Diramio has made it to match play four straight years.
Matt Parziale, 37, has plenty of experience playing in the spotlight. The Thorny Lea Golf Club member and Brockton native has advanced to the Round of 16 eight of the past 10 years.
And then there’s Joe Harney. A 32-year-old West Roxbury native who plays out of Charles River CC, Harney made a spirited run to last year’s semifinals and advanced to match play at last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
Talented teens. Seasoned veterans. And the starting punter of the New England Patriots.
This week should offer plenty of intrigue in Framingham.
